County councillors learned Sept. 30 that the Green Legacy program has some extra benefits, and others are visiting to see how tree planting works here.
In the minutes of the planning committee was a report on the success of the Green Legacy program.
Tracy Ryan, of the Grand River Conservation Authority, reported that the success rate for trees planted in 2009 was a 90 to 95 per cent survival rate.
In other areas, tree nursery manager Rob Johnson reported that he has set up bait stations to attempt to keep pests away from the trees. He was also asked to obtain bids from local exterminating companies, too.
Stewardship Council leader Larry Halyk and Ryan were planning a fall tree planting workshop. That workshop would focus on site preparation and species selection.
Halyk and Ryan were also to determine if there are other workshops taking place, and if there is still a need for a separate Green Legacy workshop.
Planner Mark Van Patter reported to the committee that the investigation into a living snowfence project is continuing, and planning committee chairman Walter Trachsel would speak with director of planning Gary Cousins about adjoining roads and planning committee meeting this fall to consider a living snow fence strategy.
And finally, Van Patter reported that the Maitland Conservation Authority is currently working on a flood reduction plan for Harriston.
That community has a trailer park and a number of buildings in the community located in a flood plain that is prone to heavy floods.
Van Patter will investigate the possibility of reducing flooding volumes by reforesting of marginal lands upstream.
